Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome, based on the same Chromium engine, have the ability to install websites onto the computer, giving the user quick access as well as some features found on more traditional locally installed apps. These websites are often referred to as Progressive Web Apps (PWA).
Okay? Why should I care?
Installing a PWA gives you quick access to the tools you may utilize the most. When installed, they appear in the Start Menu, but more importantly, can be pinned to the taskbar (the bar at the bottom of your screen where your running apps appear). Many of our most important district tools have PWAs!
- Outlook
- OneDrive
- Kami
Installing a PWA
When Microsoft Edge determines that a website is an installable Progressive Web App (PWA), the App available (
) icon appears in the address bar.
- Click the App available () icon to install the PWA.
- Click Install to complete the installation and run the PWA in Windows.
Windows integration
Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) are displayed like native apps on Windows. They appear in the Taskbar (where they can be pinned), in the Start Menu, or when switching between apps with Alt+Tab.
PWAs and native apps can reside side-by-side in the Taskbar (PWAs are indicated here by a red box):
PWAs and native apps are displayed when switching between windows with Alt+Tab (PWAs are indicated here by a red box):
PWAs can also expose common tasks to users as shortcuts that appear in the app’s right-click menu:
PWAs can also display notifications in Windows.